The Ridgecrest Republican Women, Federated and the Democratic Club of the High Desert are set to host guest speakers Friday and Saturday for their monthly meetings.

On Friday at noon, the Republican Women have invited Ridgecrest resident and artist Alexander Kubaiski to speak about his experiences.

Kubaiski is a Macedonian native who grew up under a Communist regime. Kubaiski came to the U.S. as a student and earned degrees in finance and economics.

According to the RRWF news release, Kubaiski "is dedicated to speaking out for freedom."

Kubaiski has a reputation for his fervent passion of the American system of freedom. He has spoken about it on many occasions, including at a February meeting of the Exchange Club and during a Patriots Day forum on April 20 at Crossroads Church.

The Ridgecrest Republican Women luncheon will be held at Victoria's Restaurant at the Heritage Inn at 1050 North Norma Street. The luncheon cost is $14 and reservations can be made by calling Barbara Hall at (760) 375-1966.

Democratic Club

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., the Democratic Club of the High Desert meets for its monthly brunch at its normal locale at the Grape Leaf Restaurant at 901 N. Heritage Drive.

According to Matthew Alexander, the club's press officer, one of the guest speakers for the brunch will be Mayor Dan Clark. Alexander noted that Clark will speak about Ridgecrest's upcoming 50th Anniversary Celebration on Nov. 1-3 and about his first year as mayor.

On Tuesday, Clark said that his primary focus will be on the 50th anniversary, but he will also address issues important to the city.

"I suppose I will be speaking about the city budget, about our upcoming signature petroglyph festival and the city's strategic planning session on Oct. 26," Clark said by phone. "I will add a personal note of what it has been like to be mayor for the last 10 months, and what my perception of where the position should go."

Clark is the first directly-elected mayor in Ridgecrest's 50-year history as an incorporated city. In June 2012, Ridgecrest voters approved a ballot measure that turned the mayor's position into a two-year term, elected separately from the rest of the city council. Prior to that, the city council voted on which of its members would preside as mayor for two years.

On the petroglyph festival, which is tentatively scheduled for November 2014, Clark said he hoped to transform it into Ridgecrest's signature event.

“In my mind, what separates a signature event from the other events we have in town is that it should be a revenue generator, not a revenue shifter,” Clark said. Clark said that many events in the city just shifted money that already existed in the town from one place to another.

Page 2 of 2 - An event that draws in outside tourism could generate fresh revenue and benefit the city's businesses and hotels.

“Unlike the balloon festival in the past, which has been driven off by the wind, and the Wildflower Festival, our petroglyphs are more stationary,” Clark said. “It is a natural resource that can be utilized and expanded upon.”

Additionally, Odessa Newman-Staples, the club's vice president, said Tuesday that people can bring questions about the Affordable Healthcare Act (also known as Obamacare) with them.

“We would like attendees to bring questions that we can pass on to an expert for answers at a future meeting,” Newman-Staples said.

The Democratic Club brunch is open to anyone, with no admission fee. People are welcome to purchase their own meals.